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The Beaminster Cluster has been running successfully for many years. Originally the four, small, funded primary schools - Parrett and Axe, Broadwindsor, Salway Ash and Sticklands, linked with two larger primary schools in the area - St. Mary’s Beaminster and Greenford at Maiden Newton.  Since the introduction of the Small Schools Fund, all the schools receive the same level of funding and this is used collectively to fund many collaborative projects.

 The benefits of the Cluster, for all the schools involved, include:

• reduced isolation  - both children and staff get many opportunities to share learning and new experiences with a much wider community.

• co-operation and mutual support  -  expertise in teaching and non-teaching staff can be shared throughout the Cluster.   Good quality training can be provided and many resources jointly financed and shared.  

• innovative projects being jointly planned  -  this results in all the children in the Cluster having exciting educational experiences which enhance and extend the National Curriculum.

The Cluster has often been a leader in introducing educational initiatives. One example was the training of all Key Stage 2 staff to include special provision in their planning for Able Children in their classrooms. In recent years, under the umbrella of “Developing Creative Thinking Skills”, the Cluster children have been introduced to drama as a means of stimulating writing and developing and enhancing the humanities curriculum.  Awareness of multicultural issues has been raised through workshops in dance, music and art from both the Asian and African continents.  

Other projects have involved video conferencing opportunities for all children, linked to the latest subject to be introduced into the curriculum – Citizenship.  These projects have not only improved ICT skills, but have developed literacy skills through collaborative studies with inner city schools, culminating in writing workshops.  Younger children have been focusing on caring for their environment and child safety with visits to the Kingcombe Centre and Streetwise in Bournemouth and also developing communication and citizenship skills through videoconferencing within the Cluster.  

The Cluster collaborative links extend beyond those provided by the fund, as annual events include the Beaminster Choral and Instrumental Festivals, Year 4 and Year 6 residential trips to Slimbridge and the Isle of Wight respectively, inter-school football, netball, hockey, short tennis, cricket, swimming and athletic events.